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Absence Seizure Treatment

Topic: Pediatric

Created on Friday, June 8 2007 by jdmiles

Last modified on Friday, June 8 2007.

An 8 year old female presents with staring spells 10-20 times per day for over 6 months. She has not had any motor seizures according to the family, and has no prior history of seizures. She has no other known medical problems, and has had normal intellectual development. Physical exam is normal, except that an absence seizure can be elicited by having the patient hyperventilate. EEG shows 3 Hz spike wave complexes.

Of the following choices, which is the best choice as a first-line monotherapy?


 
        A) Phenytoin
 
        B) Ethosuximide
 
        C) Primidone
 
        D) Carbamazepine
 
        E) Tiagabine
 

 


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This question was created on June 08, 2007 by jdmiles.
This question was last modified on June 08, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS




A) phenytoin

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history and exam are consistent with childhood absence epilepsy. As this patient has only absence seizures, ethosuximide would be a good first line monotherapy.  (See References)

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B) ethosuximide

This answer is correct.


This patient's history and exam are consistent with childhood absence epilepsy. As this patient has only absence seizures, ethosuximide would be a good first line monotherapy.  (See References)

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C) primidone

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history and exam are consistent with childhood absence epilepsy. As this patient has only absence seizures, ethosuximide would be a good first line monotherapy.  (See References)

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D) carbamazepine

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history and exam are consistent with childhood absence epilepsy. As this patient has only absence seizures, ethosuximide would be a good first line monotherapy.  (See References)

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E) tiagabine

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history and exam are consistent with childhood absence epilepsy. As this patient has only absence seizures, ethosuximide would be a good first line monotherapy.  (See References)

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References:

1. Levin, K.H., and Luders, H.O. (Eds.) (2000). Comprehensive Clinical Neurophysiology. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia.
2. Browne, T.R., & Holmes, G.L. (2004). Handbook of Epilepsy, 3rd Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
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pediatric
Absence Seizure Treatment
Question ID: 060807021
Question written by J. Douglas Miles, (C) 2006-2009, all rights reserved.
Created: 06/08/2007
Modified: 06/08/2007
Estimated Permutations: 59400

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